PHOTO: Labour Minister Moses Kollie
By Augustine Octavius,ugustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Liberian government has called on the management of Firestone Rubber Plantation Company to halt its decision to redundant 374 employees at the entity.
Labor Minister Moses Kollie said it is the opinion of the government that the Firestone Liberia has not given any reason known whether the planned redundancy is as a result of reorganization, transfer, discontinuing or reduction of business.
So far, the Firestone management has not responded to the government’s latest position on its planned July 26, 2020 redundancy of hundreds of workers.
Addressing a press conference, Labor Minister, Moses Kollie, added that the government cannot provide guidance to Firestone Liberia needs to effect its redundancy except she is properly clarified the reasons .
“Our decision is based on the fact that Firestone Liberia usually sublet units declared redundant and it is not clear as to whether the authority to sublet is written in the concession agreement between the government and the company,” he said.
“More importantly,” the minister went on,“ without proper clarification, Firestone Liberia may be in contravention of Session 13.4 A of the Decent Work Act.”
According to the 13.4 A of the Decent Work Act, “change of business or ownership shall not adversely affect the terms and conditions of employment of workers who continuous to be employed in such a business and their contracts of employment are deemed for all purposes to have continued unbroken.”
“That is the law which we as a ministry cannot undo,” he added.
Under Session 14.5 O of the Decent Work Act , which states : “In the event that subsequent new employment arises at a future date, the employer shall consider persons that previously declared redundant for redeployment. Failure on the part of the employer to do so shall constitute a violation of this act.”
Similarly in September of 2018, he explained, Firestone Liberia sent a notice to the Labor Ministry indicating that she has the intent of retrenching the services of 600 employees.
“Something which the government requested that said process should be done in phases with the understanding that those to be redundant should have the first right of refusal or should be considered contract holder between they and the company that did not happen.”
“We feel strongly that was a complete violation of the decent work act of Liberia and therefore, this government through the Labor Ministry wishes to encourage Firestone Liberia differ its intended action dated June 24, 2020 and addressed to the Labor Ministry in order to find another alternative to the termination of the 374 employees .”
According to the minister, President George Weah is very concern especially where a company intends to carry out redundancy on the independent day of this country.
“We encourage the Firestone Liberia to sit with government further discussion in order for all of us to find a way forward so that there can be win-win situation.”
“Our people cannot just be losing the jobs in the midst of this huge global pandemic and we strongly believe that Firestone as a strong partner to this country since 1926, they will be magnanimous enough to listen to the advice of the government.”